Category: Hiking
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Hiking Naramata Dam and a Chance Encounter with Japanese Snow Monkeys
September 29, 2025. Minakami, Japan. Today we climbed the Naramata Dam. The Naramata Dam is a significant multi-purpose dam located in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, in the upper part of the Yu no koya area. It is a rock-fill dam with a height of 158 meters (518 ft), making it one of the highest…
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Hiking Twin Falls at Olallie State Park.
July 25, 2025. Tacoma, Washington. Day 65 of 170 Today was our last hike with the boys as they head back East tomorrow, bringing this phase of our trip to an end. We decided on one last hike: the Twin Falls Trail at Olallie State Park. The trailhead is just 45 minutes east of Seattle,…
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Return to Lena Lake
July 23, 2025. Tacoma, Washington. Day 63 of 170 Some hikes just call for a repeat visit, and Lena Lake is definitely one of them. This 7.2-mile roundtrip trek, with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet, rewards you with a fantastic swimming lake at the top. Our last trip to Lena Lake was on a…
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Wildlife Encounters and Trails at Mount Rainier’s Sunrise
July 21, 2025. Tacoma, Washington. Day 61 of 170 Today, we hiked on the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park. The Sunrise area, located at the end of Sunrise Park Road, is Mount Rainier’s highest point reachable by vehicle, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the mountain and surrounding Cascade Range. It’s a hugely popular…
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Baptism at Talapus Lake: A Special Family Moment
July 17, 2025. Tacoma, Washington. Day 57 of 170 Today, we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience hiking to Talapus Lake, located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness within the Central Cascades Region of Washington State. After our hike, we all settled by the lake to rest a bit. I immediately went into catnap mode while the boys…
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Hiking Murhut Falls: An Olympic National Forest and Hood Canal Gem
July 11, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 51 of 170 Today we hiked yet another gem in the Olympic National Forest: Murhut Falls. This trail is perfectly maintained, and at only 1.8 miles roundtrip with a 250-foot ascent, it rewards you with one of the most astonishing and accessible waterfalls we’ve ever experienced. The two-tiered, 130-foot…
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Day 3 at Olympic National Park: Exploring Rocky Brook Falls
July 9, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 49 of 170 Today was a rest day, but not without a short visit to a nearby waterfall. We took a brief walk to Rocky Brook Falls. The falls are unique in the incredible access they provide visitors. Access to the falls is a five-minute walk, or 200 yards,…
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Exploring Othello Tunnels: History and Scenic Views in Hope, BC
July 4, 2025. Hope, British Columbia. Day 44 of 170 Today we visited the Othello Tunnels at Coquihalla Canyon Park, near Hope, British Columbia. In the early 1900s, the Canadian Pacific Railway decided a route was necessary to link the Kootenay Region with the British Columbia coast by rail. The railway was built over three…
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Hiking the Grouse Grind: A Challenging Adventure in North Vancouver
June 30, 2025. North Vancouver, Canada. Day 40 of 170 Today we hiked our most awaited trail of the trip: The Grouse Grind. Grouse Mountain is an all-encompassing attraction located in North Vancouver. The most sensible way to reach the top of the mountain is via the Skyride, a 100-person tramway system. You can also…
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Discover the Wonders of Deception Pass State Park
June 26, 2025. Blaine, Washington. Day 36 of 170 Today, we spent the day at Deception Pass State Park. Deception Pass is a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Washington. It connects Skagit Bay, part of Puget Sound, with the Strait of Juan de Fuca.…